"Senior Sister, where are we going now?" a girl of about eighteen asked.
"I'm taking you to the servants' quarters."
Hearing this, everyone's steps faltered.
They had worked so hard to pass the assessment, only to become servant disciples?
Zhao Mubai saw their confusion and explained with a smile, "In Hua Xia Sect, we don't put much emphasis on a disciple's cultivation talent. Everyone is the same; they must start as a servant disciple and then slowly get promoted."
"The Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters also came up through the ranks of servant disciples."
"If we're servant disciples, does that mean we can't cultivate the sect's techniques?"
"No, being a servant disciple is only linked to sect rewards; there are no restrictions."
"Then how do we get promoted?"
"For a servant disciple to be promoted to a regular disciple, besides their cultivation reaching the Body Forging Stage, they also need to meet the condition of one hundred sect contribution points."
"As for sect contribution points, you can go to the Mission Hall to accept missions. The hall is in the lower right corner of the plaza."
"In addition, contribution points can also be used to purchase sect cultivation resources, spirit stones, cultivation techniques, weapons, pills, and so on."
Zhao Mubai said this, then pointed into the distance, "That's the sect night market. If you need anything, you can go there and trade with the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."
Everyone looked over, only to see a bustling crowd in the distance, with constant shouts and calls.
"Oh, right, a reminder for you: try to stay away from Senior Brother Fang Yuan and Senior Brother Qin Hao, lest they trick you."
"Ah?" Everyone stared blankly at Zhao Mubai.
Before they came, they had heard of Fang Yuan and Qin Hao's reputations; they were both ruthless devils who killed without batting an eye.
Such formidable people would also trick others?
Just as everyone was confused, two sneaky figures suddenly emerged from the side.
"Hehe, Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, have you eaten yet? If not, this Senior Brother has excellent Grain Abstinence Pills here, at an affordable price. Eating them not only fills your stomach but also increases your cultivation. We're having a promotion now: buy one, get one free."
Everyone stared blankly at the two, involuntarily focusing their gaze on Zhao Mubai.
"Ahem... Mubai, I, your Senior Brother, plan to visit Zhao Country with you in a few days, but if you don't behave, I might not go..."
Zhao Mubai's mouth twitched slightly, and he silently retreated to the side.
Seeing this, someone cautiously looked at Fang Yuan and the other, "May I ask which Senior Brothers you two are?"
"I'm Zhao Shijie," Fang Yuan responded with a chuckle.
"I'm Lin Ye," Qin Hao showed a wide, white smile.
"We pay our respects to Senior Brother Zhao Shijie and Senior Brother Lin Ye," everyone bowed with cupped hands, respectfully.
"You're too kind, too kind," Fang Yuan lifted everyone's bodies, then continued, "Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, do you want to buy some Grain Abstinence Pills? Today's special price is one hundred low-grade spirit stones per pill, buy one, get one free."
"I have over a dozen cultivation techniques here, from the Body Forging Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage. They're simple and easy to understand, you'll learn them instantly. I'm reluctantly letting them go now for one thousand low-grade spirit stones per book, choose whatever you like," Qin Hao chimed in from the side.
Everyone looked at each other, a little disbelieving of the scene before them.
Two exceptionally talented Senior Brothers were actually humbly begging them to buy things?
What about their supposed prestige?
Someone tremblingly pulled out spirit stones, "Se-Senior Brother, I'll buy ten Grain Abstinence Pills..."
With one person taking the lead, others immediately followed, eagerly pulling out spirit stones.
"Senior Brother, I'll buy cultivation techniques, two books!"
"I want twenty Grain Abstinence Pills and one cultivation technique."
"I want some too, I want some too."
"Hey, don't rush, don't rush, there's enough for everyone, everyone line up."
"Senior Brother, are there any more cultivation techniques?"
"Yes, yes, one by one," Qin Hao pulled out another dozen or so cultivation techniques.
Looking at the overflowing spirit stones, Fang Yuan and Qin Hao's mouths were about to split from smiling. They didn't linger; as soon as they sold out, they slipped away.
Those who bought the Grain Abstinence Pills and cultivation techniques showed excited expressions, believing they had gotten a great bargain.
Zhao Mubai's forehead was lined with black, but he still couldn't help but say, "Those two just now were Senior Brother Fang Yuan and Senior Brother Qin Hao."
"And the Grain Abstinence Pills in your hands are pills that Senior Brother Fang Yuan messed around with himself; eating them will only give you a stomach ache. As for the cultivation techniques, these are all low-grade techniques that can be viewed for free in the Scripture Pavilion."
"Ah?"
Everyone had huge question marks above their heads, standing frozen in place.
"Th-this is Senior Brother Fang Yuan and Senior Brother Qin Hao?" someone whimpered, on the verge of tears.
"That was all my life savings! Wuwu..."
"How can the two Senior Brothers be like this! They're too bullying!"
"Wuwu, it's all my fault for being too naive and believing their nonsense..."
Seeing the newly initiated Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters crying and wailing, Zhao Mubai quickly consoled them, "A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. Next time you encounter them, just avoid them."
What else could everyone say? They could only silently, tearfully, add Fang Yuan and Qin Hao to their blacklist.
Zhao Mubai led everyone towards the plaza when suddenly someone pointed at the arena and exclaimed, "Senior Sister, look! Two Senior Brothers are fighting each other, they're almost dead!"
Zhao Mubai glanced at them and calmly said, "They won't die. You'll see this kind of scene often in the future."
"But, but they've already bled all over the ground, they look like they're about to die," a female disciple cried out in fear.
"Don't mind them," Zhao Mubai waved her off and continued walking forward.
When everyone arrived at the night market, they were immediately attracted by the dazzling array of goods and food.
"Senior Sister, what's that?" someone asked curiously, pointing at stir-fried rice on a hot plate.
"It's a type of delicious food, but it's a bit expensive."
"What about that?"
"That's a cold drink shop. They have all kinds of drinks, and they're very tasty. If you have any extra contribution points later, you must treat your Senior Sister to a drink."
"There's a Senior Brother selling demon beast cubs, they're so beautiful."
"Those are Spirit Fox cubs. Senior Brother Zhao has been trying to sell them for a long time but hasn't succeeded."
"Senior Sister, there's a Senior Brother singing, it's so nice."
"Listening to songs costs money. If you like it, you can request a song; it only requires a few contribution points."
"Senior Sister, what's that again?"
"Those are weapons made by Senior Brother Li Yongxiao and Senior Brother Wang Xiaojun. They can easily kill Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, but they are very expensive."
"That powerful? So if we use them, can we also kill Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators?"
"No, these weapons require spiritual energy to activate. Once you cultivate to the Qi Refining Stage, you'll be able to use them, but they really are very expensive; I certainly can't afford them."
"Senior Sister, those clothes are so pretty, how much is one?"
"One contribution point, or one thousand low-grade spirit stones. Your Senior Sister often comes here to buy clothes too."
"So many things! I really want to buy them!"
The rich and colorful sect made this group feel incredibly novel, and they also gained a new understanding of the various Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.
Everyone passed through the plaza and arrived at the villa area, immediately stunned by the sight of the houses.
The walls were colorful, and the interiors were resplendent, filling everyone with envy.
"This is where the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters live. If you have extra contribution points, you can also find Junior Brother Wang to help you design one."
Passing through the villa area, everyone arrived at an open space.
"This is where you will live. As for the houses, you need to build them yourselves."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces immediately fell.
"Within the sect, everything must be earned with your own hands. I'll emphasize it again: contribution points are very important. With contribution points, you can buy anything you want."
"From now on, you will gather in the plaza every morning, and the Sect Master will personally teach you how to cultivate."
"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. The rest is for you to slowly explore."
Zhao Mubai finished speaking and left gracefully, leaving behind a group of bewildered young men and women.